Trucking company bosses face fines, jail over Eastern Freeway police deaths

Three trucking company employees have been charged over the crash that killed four police on the Eastern Freeway.

Three trucking company employees have been charged over the tragic crash on the Eastern Freeway that killed four police officers.

The charges have been laid following an 18-month investigation, called Taskforce Paragon, led by Victoria Police in conjunction with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator.

A transport company from Riverstone, NSW, its owner/managing director, national operations manager, and state manager have each been charged with category one and two offences under the Heavy Vehicle National Law.

This included a 51-year old man from Kenthurst, NSW, a 47-year old man from Glenwood, NSW, and a 52-year old man from Labrador, Queensland.

Rescue workers at the scene where Singh’s truck ploughed into four officers as they stood on the side of the Eastern Freeway.

Category one offences are defined by reckless behaviour that could cause an accident or death and carry a maximum penalty of $300,000 and/or five years imprisonment for an individual and $3,000,000 for a corporation.

Category two offences include actions that create a risk of accident or death and carry a maximum penalty of $150,000 for an individual and $1,500,000 for a corporation.

These are the most serious offences under the law.

In April last year, a truck driven by Mohinder Singh crashed into the officers, who were stopped for an intercept on the Eastern Freeway.

Constable Joshua Prestney.

Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor.

Senior Constable Kevin King.

Constable Glen Humphris.

It killed Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Senior Constable Kevin King, Constable Glen Humphris and Constable Josh Prestney.

Singh has already been jailed over the tragedy, and his boss at Connect Logistics, Simiona Tuteru, has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and will face trial over the crash.

National Heavy Vehicle Regulator Director of Prosecutions Belinda Hughes said the tragedy acted as “a sobering reminder of the consequences that can occur when there is a failure to ensure safe transport activities”.

Assistant Commissioner Road Policing Glenn Weir said the charges were “a stark reminder that the impact of road trauma is catastrophic”.

“We won’t hesitate to hold all of those responsible to account,” he said.

The three men charged will face Parramatta Local Court on September 28.